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Biography

A BRIEF JOURNEY THROUGH THE LIFE OF JOON P CHOI

There are times when one cannot avoid a fight. During the Korean War, the streets of Korea were filled with angry street gangs who tried to survive day by day. One day a gang of twenty fighters attacked Joon Choi. Five men were wounded. One of the five was in a coma for three days in the hospital. The other fifteen gang members ran for their lives. At that time Choi was 17 years old; and he was already a 3rd degree Black Belt in Taekwondo.

Choi spent part of his childhood in a South Korean refugee camp where his family had fled to after they escaped North Korea. During the Korean War, refugee camps were tough. To survive, refugee children often fought with native street gangs.

Influenced by family members, Choi studied martial arts, an ancient system of physical training in selfdefense. He learned the philosophy and art of Taekwondo from Supreme Grand Master Byung Jick Ro, founder of the Song Moo Kwan system. Choi learned acupuncture so he could heal, learned hypnotism to open his mind, and studied art and music to obtain more balance in his life.

Choi progressed rapidly. In 1967 and 1968 he captured the championship title as a competitor in his division. He was also deeply involved in meditation through which he gained self-awareness. This lead to his decision to devote his life to teaching martial arts. In the April of 1971 Choi came to America to fulfill his dream. Grand Master Choi has mastered several martial arts, including karate, Kung Fu and weaponry. He became a 9th degree black belt in Taekwondo.

His credentials as a teacher are impressive. He has produced more national and international champions than any other instructor in the United States. Master Choi has coached several U. S. teams in international events including the 3rd World Taekwondo Championship - 1977 in Chicago where the team became 3rd place in the world; 1988 U. S. National Team Coach for the Seoul Olympics which brought home 11 medals. US women’s Team became 1st place in the world and the Men’s Team became 2nd place in the world.

In 1993 Grand Master Choi established an International Goodwill Team that visited Russia, Korea, Mexico and China. For over forty years Master Choi has studied martial arts and he has taught more than 25,000 students. He is concerned with students’ physical and spiritual growth.

One of Master Choi’s current projects is to get government accreditation for an actual martial arts college where students would study all aspects of the martial arts: physical skills, philosophical ideas, art and martial arts. Master Choi’s final goal is to build a martial arts temple where masters would live and students could stay indefinitely to cultivate their minds and bodies whenever they need.

Master Choi’s successful adjustment to life and business in America is not only inspiring, but demonstrates his basic philosophy:

We must constantly try to improve,
from the moment we are born
to the moment we go.
If we do not, we die.
It is our obligation as human beings.

2007: Recipient, USAT Directors Leadership Award
Hall of Fame Award by US Taekwondo Grandmaster's Society, Coach of the Year

2006: Special Award from Woon Kyun Uhm, Kukkiwon President
Taekwondo Times, Coach of the Year, Hall of Fame Award
Taekwondo Times, Editor
Advisor to the President of USAT
Co-Chairman, USAT Martial Arts Commission
Established Battle of Columbus/World Martial Arts Games European Qualifier
Establish European Martial Arts Alliance
International Advisor, Nigerian Taekwondo Federation

2005: Established Pan-Caribbean Martial Arts Alliance
Established African MartialArts Alliance
Established Canadian Martial Arts Alliance
Established Korean Martial Arts Alliance
President of World Martial Arts Alliance (www.wuma.com)
Featured on Cover Story in National Association of Profession Martial Artists (NAPMA) Magazine

2004: Elected as a President of United States Taekwondo Alliance
World Peace Ambassador Medal Award by United Nation World Peace Council

2003: Martial Arts Hall of Fame Award by World United Martial Arts Alliance

2001: General Chairman of the Arnold Battle of Columbus World Martial Arts Games/Asian Culture Fair
Special Award from President of Bridgeport University CT. for Martial Arts Contribution

2000: U.S. Team Head for World Taekwondo Festival (Korea & China)

1999: U.S. Team Head for World Taekwondo Festival (Korea) & Served as an Executive Committee

In addition to above mentioned Grandmaster Choi’s OMAC has produced more than 50 national contenders and Open Circuit Champions; the most national/international champions from a single U.S.A. school as well as over 25,000 Students